The Charges
March 30th, 2008 by The Staff of ASP
I got the MFR (memorandum for record) on the reasons for why I have been told to stop blogging. Before I get started, let me state that I am no longer blogging. Instead, ASP is now an online eZine and write articles in a journalistic capacity.
The "complaints" registered against me as potentially violating military regulations as well "good order and discipline within the Army" are as follows "in no particular order of merit":
o failure of an active duty Soldier to register any and all online communications with his commanding officer and forwarded to this office for tracking.
o wearing the uniform of a United States Army Soldier at unofficial military functions giving the appearance of acceptance and support by such (did a lawyer write this?).
o speaking on behalf of the United States Army while conducting telephonic, radio, and online interviews with various traditional and nontraditional media outlets without proper authorization or credentials.
o disrespect to military officers, military civilians, and duly elected members of the Congress of the United States.
o interfering in ongoing joint investigations into international fraud by the Departments of State and Justice.
o publicly threatening civilians and citizens of friendly nations with whom the United States is an ally as a member of the United States Army.
There were a few others, but these were the meat and bones accusations. Naturally, this is a very skewed view of the realities of what we do here at ASP. Either someone is looking to pin on a second star or we have some really big morons in places of power. Oh, wait, this isn't a blog – it's a journalistic endeavor. Let me do this correctly…
Posted in Military PerspectiveMr. Grisham minimized the impact of threats against him by saying that "someone is looking to pin on a second star or we have some really big morons in places of power."
"I'm just waiting to see where this is going," Grisham added. "I'm 100% positive that I will come out of this on top and a lot of people in high places will owe me coins of achievement for having proven them wrong. That is the only apology from the Pentagon I will accept. And they need to be in those nice plastic cases, too!"
A Soldier's Perspective will definitely be following this story closely since it impacts us directly. Stay tuned.
I'm just at a total loss for words about this so I will reiterate – since no OPSEC has been violated on this blog it seems to me that those who have taken the time to drag you through this might want to consider finding something a bit more constructive to do. Sheesh!
Yes, because this blogs hurts many peopkes feelings.
By the way, nice "journalistic endeavor"
c.j. – ignore your critics.
if they threaten to put you in Levenworth,
i'll be the next one to go to jail.
these so-called Americans that want to give you a hard time
can call me any time, any day.
if the u.s. government thinks that you're a threat to America
than al-Qaeda is laughing and winning this war.
these gov't officials won't have to arrest me.
i'll volunteer to go to jail, just to protect the
freedom of speech rights of the U.S. Flag burners, CODE PINK &
MOVE ON.
this is not nazi germany. it is America.
U.S. GENERALS CAN HAVE THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH
WHEN SPEAKING TO THE N.Y. TIMES,
BUT C.J. GRISHAM IS MUZZLED? THIS IS A DEMOCRACY.
I AM WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL.
631-553-6873
N.B. DON'T BOTHER WITH HAND CUFFS.
Thomas Patrick Folan , Former Seaman, U.S.N.R.
C.J. Don't sweat the samll stuff.
Those that want to threaten you are aid'n and abetting the enemy.
I suggest they just go and pay to see the new MOVIE
'STOP-LOSS'
al – Qaeda loves these Hollywood movies.
Here is the review of 'STOP- LOSS' from Kyle Smith:
DRIVES YOU UP AWOL
Rating:
March 28, 2008 —
AFTER five years of news footage and documentaries coming from the war in Iraq, "Stop-Loss" is as phony as a re-enactment with finger pup pets.
"Stop-Loss" is a highly patriotic film, if you happen to dream of the restored caliphate as you sleep in your Osama bin Laden pajamas. Its message is that the good guys are US soldiers who decide to desert, such as a sergeant played by Ryan Phillippe. (Another soldier, played by Channing Tatum of "Step Up," is the villain: He wants to re-enlist.)
Sgt. Brandon King (Phillippe) returns home to Texas to be pinned with a medal for noble service in Iraq, where he led his men into a lethal situation any member of the Salvation Army would have immediately recognized as an ambush.
He and the other actors compete to out-crazy each other while yokelizing their accents a couple of notches past "Texan" to "stroke victim." Every sentence must contain the word "ain't," and everybody spends their time killin' rattlers when they're not relaxing in the "Little House on the Prairie" shacks they call home.
Tatum's character, Shriver, digs himself a foxhole in the front yard and starts howling about enemies in the night, while Tommy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) drives into a lamppost and shoots his wedding presents with a rifle.
Then Sgt. King, who is supposed to be discharged, learns that he has been hit with a stop-loss order requiring him to re-report for duty.
The Army stop-loss program is disturbing but it's also an unfortunate necessity when there is neither a draft nor a volunteer spirit; it wasn't needed in, say, the Korean War. Tough as it is to take, a soldier can't do much about it, and the military would fall apart if it didn't punish runaways.
The mention of the stop-loss policy is the last time the movie intersects with reality. From then on, it's strictly comedy or maybe sci-fi. Sgt. King gets to march into the office of a lieutenant colonel (Timothy Olyphant), jumping over the intervening seven ranks to announce, "With all due respect, f – - – the president." Sure.
About to be brought to the stockade, Sgt. King simply punches out a couple of minders and runs. Getting away with this in the middle of a military base in daylight is about as likely as escaping from a submarine, but never mind, it's on to the next howler.
Brandon tells his parents about his refusal to report, but they neglect to beat him with the nearest mop handle and instead cheer him on. Desert away, my boy! And for no discernible reason, his best friend's girl (Abbie Cornish) jumps in a car with him. Brandon plans to ask a senator he once shook hands with for help, as soon as they can drive to Washington. Because there ain't no phones in Texas.
As we cut from Texas to their road trip (the two of them are constantly driving over bridges), Brandon continues to wear his fatigues despite being on the run from MPs. He even walks into a military hospital, where the movie proves it thinks sergeants are addressed as "Sir."
The Timberlakish Phillippe does his best to play things wacky/flashbacky, "First Blood"-style, with three street toughs who bust up his car. "OK, Hadjis!" he cries. "Y'all better start prayin' to Allah!" He also dives into a swimming pool, imagining a buddy is lying on the bottom. More than an hour goes by before he realizes senators don't actually help deserters (at least until Sen. Al Franken is sworn in).
In the alternate reality of "Stop-Loss," desertion, a crime punished by most armies through most of history with a firing squad, is handled about the same way as staying out after dark to play kick the can even though your mama done told you to be back in time for supper.
But never mind all that, because in the closing moments, the film reverses course on everything it supposedly stands for, except absurdity.
THANK YOU NEW YORK POST, THANKS KYLE SMITH !
=============================================
Once again … C.J.
don't sweat the small stuff.
I know there are a few bullies out there. Forget them. I don't have to tell you anything that you don't already know.Remember that there are millions that support you.
Respectfully, Thomas Folan
We certainly support you and all service members who choose to use new media to journal their experiences. As long as your aren't violating OPSEC I don't see an issue. I hope your readers rally 'round in support!
Supporting Our Military, One eMail at a Time @ eMail Our Military
You have got to be $#!&&!*@ me!!
Anything we can do,,just say the word. This is bogus(had to be nice,,kid right here with me)
CJ,
You have my support. This is a fine milblog and you represent everything an American citizen could hope for in an American soldier.
I wonder who filed complaints against ASP?
I absolutely believe that milblogs in general have been a positive and not a negative.
As much as I appreciate your blog, please don't do anything to get you in official trouble. I suspect that there are a bunch of young Soldiers who need your leadership more than we need your blogging.
Respectfully,
MAJ, US Army, Retired
I'm just flabbergasted! Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face…
The Milblogs have done more to garner support for the military in general and specifically for the two ME missions than any other entity since 9/11. I really think this is the height of stupidity on someone's part. I suppose they'd rather we'd hear all the ugliness that the traditional media hammers on than hear good stuff that our military is accomplishing. I'm speechless! Please let us know if there's anything a few civilians can do to help put a stop to this travesty.
Their charges are assinine. CJ you and the rest have kept the average American well informed as to the situtation within the Military. You must have said or wrote something that offened one of the Politically Coorect butt kissers the now inhabit the Pentagon. I thank you and all others that we depend on for the truth. We sure are not getting the truth from the MSM or our political leaders. Keep the Faith!
!
Rule Number 11 applies.
I'd be worried.
I'm looking for a fight right now anyway and I can't think of anyone I'd rather fight with/for. Just let me know if and how I can help!
Sharon M
You got a NY Liberal thinking that he may have gotten wrong a few times. As Old Dawg says, don't do anything to get yourself in trouble. If you ever want to speak your piece into an mp3, let me know and I'll put it out as a podcast.
Thanks!
David
I don't know why I am surprised at this. The thing that gets me is that we all get the invites from the White House to "sit in" on calls from commanders from Iraq and other places. Does one hand not know what the other is doing? CJ & Marcus, you both know that I am here to support ya'll in any way that I can, you have my number, just give me a call.
Damn, I just came home from a 4 day school camp, looked at ASP to see what I missed and this news hits me in the bollocks. Keep fighting CJ!!
We're joining the fight over at Milblogging.com
milblogging.c...80331-063033
Good luck bro!
OMG – after being mostly offline all weekend – what a cruddy thing to see on a Monday! CJ you are one of THE most conscientious and responsible milbloggers EVER ~ These charges are totally ridiculous! I'll say DITTO to what Leta said.
CJ & cpl m, we support you 100% and are praying you thru every step of this.
Just a slight correction, sort of, for Thomas Folan, and others that seem to think "Stop-Loss" is a new idea. The fact is that that it did occur during the Korean War, but in another guise. Thousands of soldiers, sailors, and marines, WW II veterans, were recalled to active duty to fight in Korea. Ted Williams is probably the best known of them. Jerked back into service when he was arguably at the very peak of a career that brooks no delays, he was incredibly bitter against the U.S. Gov't for the rest of his life.
The fact is that male citizen of the U.S. is obligated to eight years of military service. The instant one takes the oath of enlistment that eight years begins, but is not limited to terms of an individual contract, nor must it be continous. Same for "retirees". At twenty you go into the inactive reserves subject to recall of the senior military officer of the branch. at thirty years the recall authority bumps up to the Sec. of the Army, Navy, ect., for the rest of your life. The term "lifer" is actually very accurate.
This is really just more of the same but a quicker turnaround and on a greater scale than usual, with the possible exception of Korea. The reason that it was hardly, if at all used, in Vietnam is that 1) the draft was already in place and functioning, and 2) by the time the need was discerned the war was already being critisied enough that, politically, raw recruits were preferrable to stirring old memories of Korea by recalling those who had already returned to civilian life.
No less a raw deal, but still "Stop-Loss" is not necessarily uniqe to this fight.
Another comparison could be made to the compulsory extention of the "90-day volunteers" at the beginning of the Civil War for the duration.
Tom Saunders
Correction! The reference to the Korean War, and "Stop-Loss" in general, that prompted my comment is found in the movie review of Kyle Smith (para 7) and is not the work of Mr. Folan. Sorry for the mix-up.
Well, CJ, what's going on? Take a minute, take a long deep breath. Now, I want you to focus on the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. I figure the largest number of things that can be in this category is 5. This will mean you will be putting some important and even more important things and relationships aside. Not everything can be important. Now this also means in some ways the blog will be put "on hold." This means I get put on hold, but that is not the important thing. The important thing is CJ and his future. You raise a question, "was this written by a lawyer?" I believe the answer for the whole thing is yes. You may even need to think about getting one for yourself. This will be like walking the "point" through a minefield. These charges should be construed as serious, they are against the military historical values. They are both administrative and honor based. The one thing is they have NOT been PROVEN. The administrative issues are something only you can answer. On the honor issues, as I call them, I would just ask them for the specifics as to when, where and what was said/written by CJ Grisham ALONE, which violated which of those specific values.
As I look at you, I see the man who is camped at the fork in the road. A friend of mine who was a P.O.W. in Viet Nam, we had a very similar experience. We both had friends, who would say, "We'll wait until things get back to normal again." He would just get quiet, get up and leave. They would start to follow him, I told them, "Go home!" He asked me to come over to his house. When I walked in, he put a mug of great coffee on the table in front of me. He said, "Grumpy, you never said back to normal. Why?" I said to him, "For me, normal is dead, gone. I had to start a brand new life. I just could not afford 'normal'. They want everything back the way it was, I just can't afford it." In some ways, CJ, this is exactly where I see you. I'll respect your choices.
CJ, "It's been a good trip!"
Grumpy
Don't these peolpe who drew up all these charges know there is a war going on? If they spent a fraction of their energy concentrating on "the War on Terrorism' we just might win some more hearst and minds. These guys are taking us backwards,sidewards,up,down,around-everywhee but forward. I just read a book with a story somewhat like this. Rationality prevailed and the few who wasted so many resources just "moved on" to the next victim.
"By a jury of your peers"
Well CJ, I'm so glad to see that your site is back up! I came here last night and it wasn't up and that made me so sad. I come here everyday to see what you and Marcus and the others are saying. You haven't done anything wrong and I'm like you, I believe that someone is trying to get promoted or just doesn't like what you say.
Just remember that we are all here with you and I am praying that things work out well and that you can keep blogging!
Before I get started, let me state that I am no longer blogging. Instead, ASP is now an online eZine and write articles in a journalistic capacity.
BRILLIANT!!!!! hahahahaha LOVE it- Go eZine go!!!! Just thank God, you know, its not a, um, (snicker), blog anymore.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!
You have my total support in your journalistic endeavors and I am proud to be a reader and fan of your journalistic talent. HOAHHHHHHH!
And thanks for highlighting my son's honorable service and loyalty to the country he loved, served and died for!
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG
What airhead would sign his name to that memo? Your CO or the Army needs my size 11 boot in their ass. Good Lord, how dumb are the PAOs and bean counters in my military?
You keep doing what you are doing CJ. Let me know what Congressman I can write to blaspheme against stupidity wherever it is found.
Press on, Young Man.
Subsunk